UW Bothell alumna Paula Waters (liberal studies ’98) says the University taught her the value of learning and the ability to be open minded, which have helped her as a member of the Woodinville City Council.

John Bridge, associate professor of mechanical engineering, is an international expert in synthetic materials used in horse racetracks. His research, with student help, makes racetracks safer for jockeys and horses.

Receiving a Mary Gates scholarship gave Camilo Acosta-Garcia a confidence boost in pursuing science as a career. Guided by two faculty members, he researches beetles in the campus wetlands with entomologist Michele Price and collects spiders and insects at Mount St. Helens with plant ecologist Cynthia Chang.

A tax scholar, Camille Walsh believes taxation is a system that stabilizes society by providing a safety net for the vulnerable. There’s nobility in paying taxes and being part of the system that includes everyone, says Walsh, an assistant professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences.